‘Proud Jew’: victim lauded as Bondi tributes preserved
Farid Farid and Dominic Giannini |
Another slain victim of the Bondi massacre has been farewelled as the Jewish community searches for solace in the aftermath of the killings.
Frenchman Dan Elkayam was one of 15 innocent people killed in the anti-Semitic attack on a Hanukkah event at Bondi Beach.
He was farewelled at a funeral service in Woollahra on Monday, when he was remembered as a devout Jew and an adventurer who loved to travel to new places and experience different cultures.
“He cared deeply about his friends and family and he’d do anything for them,” a friend told the funeral.
“He was also a proud Jew and no matter what, he stayed true to his core values.”
Thirteen people were still in hospital on Monday morning with injuries caused in the attack, including four in critical but stable conditions.
The identities of attack survivors who were yet to be publicly named were shielded from view on Monday after a court approved a police-led suppression order.
Leading a condolence motion in the NSW parliament on Monday, Premier Chris Minns gave tribute to the victims and lauded the Jewish community’s resilience.
“I say to the Jewish people of this state: this is your home,” he said.
“This has always been your home and we must do everything we possibly can to ensure that you are safe and you are protected in this city.”
Opposition Leader Kellie Sloane, whose electorate of Vaucluse takes in Bondi and who was at the scene as shots still rang out, described the gunmen’s actions as “a Goliath of evil”.
“All the warnings that our Jewish community and the fears had come to realisation – our beautiful Sydney had turned into a Bloody Sunday,” she said.
There was a sombre contrast across town, where a clean-up of the flowers and notes at the Bondi Pavilion memorial site began following a national day of reflection the night before.
The Sydney Jewish Museum will collect and preserve cards and other non-perishable items left at the site.
The vigil at Bondi Beach was attended by thousands of people, with dignitaries including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and several of his predecessors.
Attending the emotionally charged vigil, metres away from where gunmen fired shots from a pedestrian bridge, Vladimir Kotlyar said he was still coming to grips with the bloody events.
“I’m trying not to remember for now,” he told AAP.
Mr Kotlyar, a Jewish chaplain with the NSW State Emergency Service, was at the Hanukkah celebration and shielded his son from the bullets by lying on top of him.
He said seeing the outpouring of support helped him slowly move on.
“I draw strength from all these people around that came from all walks of life, and from my faith to carry on.”
Chaya Dadon found a hiding spot under a bench at Bondi Beach as a torrent of bullets flew over her, but she put her life on the line to help other children to safety.
The confident 14-year-old took to the stage at Bondi on Sunday to tell crowds at the memorial event that she had been divinely guided.
Rabbi Yehoram Ulman, whose son-in-law Rabbi Eli Schlanger was killed in the shooting, implored Australians to do good in the wake of the tragedy and defiantly declared light would win over darkness.
Gold medal-winning Olympic canoeist Jessica Fox also addressed the crowd, paying tribute to Ahmed Al Ahmed, a passerby who stripped one of the gunmen of his long rifle, preventing more casualties.
Thousands sang in unison with a performance of Waltzing Matilda dedicated to Matilda, the youngest victim of the fatal shooting, before groups of rabbis held each other as they recited Hebrew songs while rain fell.
Several speakers from Jewish groups addressed the vigil, where Mr Albanese was loudly booed while Mr Minns was greeted with a standing ovation.
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